The role of autonomy-connectedness in stress-modulating effects of social support in women: An experimental study using a virtual Trier Social Stress Test
Publication year
2021Number of pages
12 p.
Source
International Journal of Psychophysiology, 170, (2021), pp. 198-209ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
SW OZ BSI OGG
Journal title
International Journal of Psychophysiology
Volume
vol. 170
Languages used
English (eng)
Page start
p. 198
Page end
p. 209
Subject
Developmental PsychopathologyAbstract
Social support is associated with mental well-being and favorable therapy outcomes. As autonomy-connectedness, the capacity for self-governance in interpersonal context, may affect reliance on others, we investigated whether stress-modulating effects of social support are moderated by autonomy-connectedness. Ninety-seven undergraduates completed measures on autonomy-connectedness and trait social anxiety, and attended a laboratory session with a friend (support) or alone (control). All underwent a virtual Trier Social Stress Test and completed anxiety, cortisol and heart rate (variability) measures. Preregistered analyses revealed that social support reduced anxiety reactivity and delayed heart rate variability decreases, but not heart rate. Contrary to hypotheses, autonomy-connectedness did not predict stress-reactivity or interact with condition. Exploratory analyses suggested effects of social support on cortisol reactivity and indicated that reported support quality varied by trait anxiety and self-awareness. Our findings underline the stress-modulating effects of social support and suggest that social support can benefit individuals with varying levels of autonomy-connectedness.
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- Academic publications [227881]
- Electronic publications [107344]
- Faculty of Social Sciences [28470]
- Open Access publications [76465]
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